Daily Times

Sir: Shakespeare had no university education yet he is considered the father of English literature. It was probably Galileo who was expelled from university yet without his contributions such immense developments in physics might not have been possible. Socrates — one of the wisest men in the world — did not have any formal education. Bill Gates, the richest person on earth, was unable to secure a university degree. The list of successful people without formal university education has become voluminously huge. It appears the chances of achieving absolute success have increased for those who are either expelled from university or possess fake degrees. This argument is even stronger in developing countries. Ironically, in Pakistan, such negative stigma, if attached to the educational career, statistically increases the chances of emerging as a successful politician, lawyer or journalist. The unending trail of degree scandals of powerful people in Pakistan has left the educated elite bewildered.
We frequently witness blunders by our leaders from common errors in the English language to huge factual and statistical mistakes. And now we see scandals about fake educational institutes. How should an educated person struggling in the competition look at these scandals? Should we assume that greatness is merely a phenomenon of luck and chance? How does one objectify such subjective concepts as a fair struggle?
AHMAD USAMA
Lahore